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There’s No Difference Between ISIS and ISIL
National Review Online ^ | SEPTEMBER 12, 2014 12:53 PM | Daniel Pipes

Posted on 09/12/2014 10:36:29 AM PDT by Sherman Logan

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To: Sherman Logan

“But I use ISIS, because how often do you get to reference an ancient Egyptian goddess in modern political discussions?”

I think this is exactly why Obama doesn’t use it. He knows that calling their group by the name of a pagan goddess would be viewed as an insult by devout Muslims, which is why he avoids it.


21 posted on 09/12/2014 11:52:54 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: plain talk

That could be it, but I think Obama says “ISIL” out of sheer arrogance. Saying ISIL instead of ISIS like everyone else makes him feel superior to his American subjects. This is just part of his ego-driven personality, such as when Obama insists on pronouncing Pakistan as “POKistan”.


22 posted on 09/12/2014 11:58:53 AM PDT by Fletcher J
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To: yoe

That is also the area covered by Greater Syria, the term ISIS itself uses in its name. al Sham.

That use of the term Syria goes back to long before Mohammed or Christ.

“A country of southwest Asia on the eastern Mediterranean coast. Ancient Syria also included Lebanon, most of present-day Israel and Jordan, and part of Iraq and Saudi Arabia.”

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Syria

Why in the world would ISIS use the term “Syria” in its modern day sense of referring to the lines drawn by France and Britain and imposed on the Arab world by them? The very reason for being of ISIS is to reject and destroy those boundaries. So if they use the word Syria, they don’t mean the modern country.

In 450 BC Herodotus wrote about a ‘district of Syria, called Palaistinê”, which is approximately modern Israel. So in ancient times Israel was considered to be part of Syria.


23 posted on 09/12/2014 12:15:43 PM PDT by Sherman Logan (Perception wins most of the battles. Reality wins ALL the wars.)
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To: Red Badger

Excellent! Applause!


24 posted on 09/12/2014 12:16:46 PM PDT by Sherman Logan (Perception wins most of the battles. Reality wins ALL the wars.)
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To: Sherman Logan

Tomato, to-mah to...potato, po-tah-to...


25 posted on 09/12/2014 12:25:06 PM PDT by JimRed (Excise the cancer before it kills us; feed & water the Tree of Liberty! TERM LIMITS NOW & FOREVER!)
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To: Sherman Logan
Soon they will be branching out. ONce they are firmly established in Britain, they wilr be caling themselves the Islamic State in the United Kingdom.

Also known as:

I SUK

26 posted on 09/12/2014 12:47:26 PM PDT by uglybiker (nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-BATMAN!)
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To: Lucky9teen

Agreed except that I don’t believe that he is “falling into the trap”. Imho, he is a muslim and he knows very well what he is saying.


27 posted on 09/12/2014 12:50:49 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: plain talk
the question is why Obama persists in using ISIL

Because he recognizes that the maniacs have what they perceive as claims on Jordan, Israel, Palestine and Lebanon. Sane people realize that even if such claims exist they have no validity whatsoever.

Their only valid claim to Syria and Iraq is that US policy created their existence and growth in those two countries. Is Obama implying he'd like to contribute to their growth in those other countries?

I would like to call ISIS disintegrated, but our disgusting government (and everyone elses) won't get together and kill the cancer instead of letting it spread.

28 posted on 09/12/2014 12:57:17 PM PDT by grania
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To: House of Burgesses
This article is beside the point. Does he really think scholarship has anything to do with the fact that the administration decided not to use the same term as the rest of the country?

Point is, words are weapons in the struggle for power...

Excellent summation.

With a straight face, Pipes ascribes an arcane and benign rationale to this administration's choice of the term ISIL--this same administration that struck the terms Islamic terror and Jihad from the lexicon, that called the Fort Hood terror attack (performed in the name of Allah)"workplace violence". And this same adminsistration that told us, just the other night, that no matter how you slice it, there's no Islam in the Islamic State of Whatever.

29 posted on 09/12/2014 1:00:41 PM PDT by Eroteme
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To: grania

They have no claims to anything. However they did call themselves ISIS and they are in Syria and Iraq so it is as good a name as anything. Obama is playing terminology games just like he does when he refuses to accept they are Islamic terrorists and refuses to say we are at war with them.

I say double down and refuse to accept the premises and terminology of the enemy (Obama)


30 posted on 09/12/2014 1:01:29 PM PDT by plain talk
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To: Fletcher J

Yes I believe that as well. He think he is right and everyone else is wrong.


31 posted on 09/12/2014 1:02:52 PM PDT by plain talk
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To: Sherman Logan

Well, I disagree. Seeing as how Mr. Obama has clearly, from day one, made it well known and obvious who he supports (Muslims) and who he does not support (Israel).

As well, I believe EVERY word this jackal says means something, since he and his admin have taken to creating new meanings and changing the definitions of words.


32 posted on 09/12/2014 1:11:57 PM PDT by Lucky9teen (Justice will not be served until those who r unaffected r as outraged as those who r. B Franklin)
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To: morphing libertarian

You could flip that around and say Obama is admitting Israel’s in imminent danger, which is what the Hawks, Republican and otherwise, are always screeching about. Not that they’d admit they’re on the same side.


33 posted on 09/12/2014 1:20:44 PM PDT by House of Burgesses
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To: House of Burgesses

That would be the opposite of his pattern, but creative.

Taking over the levant is a goal which would destroy Israel for the hero of Benghazi to use the term merely shows support. If you use the terminology you support it.


34 posted on 09/12/2014 1:23:25 PM PDT by morphing libertarian
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To: Sherman Logan

As meaningless as Obama’s attempt to force the use of the Islamic name for Jerusalem. I have little doubt about the goals of the caliphate, but at the same time I have little doubt who Obama will side with if “things go badly”.


35 posted on 09/12/2014 1:31:20 PM PDT by Steamburg (Other people's money is the only language a politician respects)
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To: Sherman Logan
I KNOW they are the same thing. I do not need a democrat to lecture me about it.

I think the REAL reason Obama uses ISIL instead of ISIS is that he sent money and weapons to them in Syria when they were using the name ISIS.

It is in his best interest to call them ISIL now, so that he can continue to fool his low-information supporters (who are the only people who still think there might be a difference) in to believing his claims that he has always opposed them.

36 posted on 09/12/2014 1:36:13 PM PDT by WayneS (Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.)
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